Shinkers

When cleaning loose ball hubs, bottom brackets, and headsets, is degreaser absolutely required?

I ask because I have finish line citrus I've used on chains and gears, but not extensively on bearings. The stuff makes me nervous. It requires rinsing with water which I don't care for doing in a bearing.

Is there harm in removing the bearings and wiping with a dry rag and some rubbing alcohol then regreasing?

Thanks.

andr0id

You're really supposed to just toss them in the trash and use new ones. Since you probably can't inspect them with a microscope or measure them with a micrometer, you don't know that they in great shape.

But, if you must put them back in, just clean them and wipe them down good with some paper towels. They should be shiny, if not, they are definitely too worn to use again.

No need to use alcohol.

fietsbob

Buy new Balls They dont cost much In the bags of 1000 that is how the industrial bearing shops stock them.

A Ball can chip and that is going to take its toll on the race ..

Shinkers

Any ideas what size I'd need? Haven't opened up the hubs or bottom bracket yet.

Dura ace 7400 hubs and 1055 bottom bracket. All from early 90's era.

Headset I'm not sure.

Sheldon brown indicates 3/16 and 1/4 for hubs...

rccardr 

Jelly jar, laquer thinner, neodymium magnet. Drop in the bearings, swirl around for a few minutes, turn jar upside down and magnet on top of the lid catches the balls on the inside of the lid. Simple.

Daveyk15

These are descent components I wouldn't buy cheap ball bearing to put in them, search out for some 10 grade bearings not bike shop 100 grade ones.

pdlamb

I normally just wipe them clean with a paper towel and inspect them and the races carefully. If there's any sign of wear, spalling, cracking, etc. anywhere a whole new set of balls goes in.

Your LBS will likely have some; if you don't trust Sheldon, open the hub up and take samples down to the shop to buy replacements.

dedhed

"In General" older Shimano hubs are 3/16" front, 1/4" rear, Loose ball BB 1/4". Balls are so cheap when ought in 100 pkgs of grade 25 that I never reuse hem unless I'm working on some old Huffy

A good place to check is Velobase
VeloBase.com - Component: Shimano BB-1055, 105SC

Looigi

Degrease with OMS or WD40. No water involved. There are some good spray can degreasers as well, like Finish Line Speed Bike Degreaser. Similar can be found much cheaper at auto stores.

Andrew R Stewart 

A common over think of this issue. Millions of balls over the past hundred years have been successfully reused without problems. Simple visual inspection is good enough to detect the Ok from the bad balls. No microscope or micrometer is needed.

But I do agree that if you are unable to make this judgment then replacement is the only way you'll be sure of installing good balls.

As to fear of citrus degreaser and the water rinse off. Just dry the balls completely, another simple step. But I will take this moment to flame citrus degreasers. I've never seen the value of them and have seen their miss use and the damage that can create. The other mistaken aspect of these degreasers is that many think that they can be environmentally safely disposed of down your drain. Maybe if there's no dissolved lubes, grit or contaminates in with the degreaser. But I know no one who buys degreaser and not uses it and then also disposes it clean.

A long proven method of cleaning small parts is with a solvent like WD40 and a paper towel. No chance of damage, no miss directed disposal, no water needed, easy on the brain cells and skin. Andy.

Shinkers

Once again you guys are great.

I can't get to my hubs before the shop closes but I can swing in right before they close right after work.

They're not open tomorrow either so I'll pick up a few different sizes and keep what I don't use for future projects.